A new ad highlights Becerra as “part of a broken system that delivers for them, not you,” while Californians still don’t have an answer: for Becerra, is it incompetence or corruption?
CALIFORNIA — With just 22 days until Election Day, the corruption scandal surrounding Xavier Becerra continues to deepen as one former top adviser moves toward a federal plea deal and another has already pleaded guilty to stealing $225,000 from Becerra’s own campaign account.
Becerra – whose former top adviser is facing nearly two dozen federal corruption charges relating to the management of his campaign, in addition to his former chief of staff who was indicted on corruption charges — has changed his story about his own role in the ongoing scandal.
In November 2025, Becerra publicly acknowledged he knew about the payments in question, stating: “I was aware the payments were made… I had authorized them…” But in an April 18 interview, Becerra reversed course, claiming he “didn’t oversee” the payments made to his own top advisers.
This comes as the Steyer campaign released a new statewide ad, “Rewrite the Rules,” calling attention to Becerra’s ties to the corruption scandal and his preferred playbook where, “corporations write the rules, and politicians cash the checks.”
As Californians await news on the scandal, Becerra still refuses to answer:
- When did Becerra first learn campaign funds were being misused?
- Did anyone in Becerra’s office warn him about improper payments or financial irregularities?
- Why has Becerra avoided directly answering questions from reporters about his role and knowledge?
- What else have voters not been told as federal investigators close in on Becerra’s inner circle?
“Californians don’t want another candidate immersed in scandal, and Xavier Becerra keeps changing his story about his campaign’s corruption,” said Steyer for Governor spokesperson Danni Wang. “So which is it — did Becerra know about the illegal payments and participate in the campaign’s corruption, or was he a totally incompetent manager oblivious to what was going on underneath his nose? Either way, Californians deserve better.”
“A pattern of mismanagement and political convenience has followed Becerra throughout his career,” Wang added. “Whether it’s corruption in his inner circle, his ties to corporate interests like Chevron, or his repeated flip-flops on single-payer healthcare, Becerra says whatever is politically expedient at the moment.”
The script for “Rewrite the Rules” is below and can be watched here.
Will Xavier Becerra deliver for you?
Now, the FBI is probing his campaign for embezzlement.
Newscaster: Sacramento shockwaves…
It’s the old playbook — corporations write the rules, and politicians cash the checks.
Now powerful interests are getting behind Becerra, who’s taken thousands from Big Oil, then failed to prosecute them.
Becerra: I need Chevron. Chevron wants to give me a check, that’s their prerogative.
Xavier Becerra — part of a broken system that delivers for them, not you.
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